Biography

The Lumineers are an American folk rock band from Denver, Colorado. The founding members are Wesley Schultz (lead vocals, guitar) and Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion, piano). Schultz and Fraites began writing and performing together in Ramsey, New Jersey in 2005. They moved to Denver in 2009 after becoming frustrated with the New York music scene. In Denver, they posted a Craigslist ad for a cellist and were joined by Neyla Pekarek, a classically trained cellist. Pekarek was a member of the band from 2010 to 2018.

Musical Style

The Lumineers' music is often described as folk rock, Americana, and indie folk. Their sound is characterized by a stripped-down, raw quality, drawing influence from artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty. They are known for their acoustic arrangements, handclap-led percussion, and Schultz's emotive vocals. The band avoids using auto-tune, preferring a more natural and authentic sound.

Career

2012: The Lumineers

The band's self-titled debut album, "The Lumineers," was released on April 3, 2012. The album's lead single, "Ho Hey," became a massive international hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum in the U.S. Other notable singles from the album include "Stubborn Love."

2016: Cleopatra

Their second studio album, "Cleopatra," was released on April 8, 2016. It debuted at number one on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. The album features the popular singles "Ophelia," "Cleopatra," and "Angela." This was the last album to feature cellist Neyla Pekarek before she left the band in 2018 to pursue a solo career.

2019: III

The Lumineers' third album, titled "III," was released on September 13, 2019. The album is a concept album structured in three chapters, each focusing on a different member of a fictional family called the Sparks. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. The album was accompanied by a 44-minute film composed of a series of music videos for the songs. Key singles from the album include "Gloria" and "Life in the City."

2022: Brightside

The band's fourth studio album, "Brightside," was released on January 14, 2022. The album was produced by Simone Felice and David Baron. The title track, "Brightside," was released as the lead single. The album has been described as more carefree and spontaneous than their previous work. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Songs